Laundry Wet Treatment Liquid Reuse Through Separate Dewatering Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wet treatment methods for laundry incur unnecessary costs due to insufficient reuse of treatment liquids, leading to excessive fresh water usage.

Innovation Solution

The method involves separating and temporarily storing both bound and free main wash liquids before rinsing, allowing for their reuse in subsequent washing processes, thereby minimizing fresh water requirements and optimizing liquid usage across treatment stages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If treatment liquid is reused without separate storage, then device complexity is reduced, but treatment liquid availability at the right time is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment liquid availabilityVSAvoidstorage system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment liquid is segmented into different types (main wash liquid and rinsing liquid) and stored in separate storage containers. This segmentation allows each type of liquid to be managed independently, ensuring the right liquid is available at the right time for each washing stage, thereby resolving the contradiction between liquid availability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment liquid is separated and stored in advance before the washing process begins. By performing the separation and storage actions preliminarily, the system ensures that sufficient treatment liquid is available when needed during the washing process, without requiring complex real-time management systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of substance

If bound liquor is not removed before rinsing, then device complexity is reduced, but fresh water consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefresh water consumptionVSAvoiddewatering system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dewatering process is performed as a preliminary action before rinsing, removing bound liquor from laundry items in advance. This preliminary removal of bound liquor significantly reduces the amount of fresh water needed during the subsequent rinsing stage, resolving the contradiction between water consumption and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The bound liquor is extracted from the laundry items using a dewatering device before the rinsing process. By taking out the bound liquor in advance, the system reduces the contamination load on rinsing liquid and minimizes fresh water consumption, balancing the trade-off between device complexity and water efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Temperature

If main wash liquid and rinsing liquid are mixed immediately, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature control for reuse becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature control for reuseVSAvoidseparate storage system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The main wash liquid and rinsing liquid are segmented into separate storage containers, allowing independent temperature management for each liquid type. This segmentation enables precise temperature control when the liquids are later mixed or reused, resolving the contradiction between temperature control capability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Separate storage containers act as intermediaries between the dewatering process and the washing process. These intermediaries allow the treatment liquids to be held at appropriate temperatures before use, enabling temperature control without requiring complex real-time mixing and heating systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If treatment liquid is not temporarily stored, then device complexity is reduced, but treatment liquid supply consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment liquid supply consistencyVSAvoidtemporary storage system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment liquid is temporarily stored in advance before the washing process, ensuring consistent supply when needed. This preliminary storage action guarantees that sufficient treatment liquid is available throughout the washing process, resolving the contradiction between supply consistency and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment liquid is extracted from the dewatering process and stored separately before reuse. By taking out the liquid for temporary storage, the system ensures a consistent and reliable supply of treatment liquid for subsequent washing cycles, balancing the trade-off between reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach reduces the amount of fresh water needed for rinsing and washing, enhancing the economic efficiency of the laundry treatment process by ensuring a consistent supply of main wash liquid and maintaining suitable temperatures for reuse.

Implementation Method 1

at least a large part of the bound main wash liquid is separated from the laundry items in the at least one drainage device before the laundry items are rinsed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical dewatering: Centrifugal Separation

Implementation Method 2

the free final wash liquid separated from the items of laundry by the at least one dewatering device, namely a spin dryer or laundry centrifuge or dewatering press

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Data Source

PatentEP1995364B1Method for wet treating articles of laundry
Publication Date: 2019.03.13 HERBERT KANNEGIESSER GMBH & CO
  • EP1995364B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1995364B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1995364B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves washing articles of laundry in a washing unit and are rinsed and drained in a drainage unit. The articles of laundry from a large portion of the bound float are separated from the drainage unit before rinsing. The free floating one is separated from the articles of laundry before separating or during separating a large portion of the bound float in the drainage unit.